Would you have confronted this owner?

[honeyandbutterontoast]

I’m furious at what I’ve seen this evening, and wishing so much I had confronted the owner for her treatment of her dog.

At a very busy local outdoor event this evening. Families, dogs, loud music etc. There was a woman there with a pug (and yes the breed is important because IMO they are pretty biddable, funny little dogs who are keen to please their owners despite all their issues!). I noticed her because she was kind of dragging him along in a badly fitting harness. But didn’t think anything much of it.

Then I saw her again and he was occasionally letting out a very small bark, nothing really and like I say it was super busy with lots of exciting things around. She then got out of her pocket a water pistol and started squirting him very aggressively in the face. Not just once or twice (which wouldn’t be okay) but repeatedly. He was cringing away from her and she then dragged him away.

I so badly wanted to go over to her and spray her in the face with it. And I feel so sad thinking of what she does to him in private :(

So would you have said anything? I’m not sure I could have said it calmly and maybe to some it’s acceptable to discipline a dog in that way.

I’ve heard of that to train dogs but guess you had to be there

Someone who drags their dog along the ground and squirts them in the face with water isn't really someone you're going to have a rational conversation with.

Unfortunately neither of the things you describe are illegal and I don't think you'd have achieved anything productive by confronting her.

People like that don't really care what you think and you'd only have put yourself at risk.

I would if I was alone. Not if I was with my children or dog. Nasty bitch.

Yes I would.

Anyone 'training' a dog like that deserves to be judged as a twat.

Water spray is an old school aversive training tool and similar to the can of stones or training discs which use noise to shock and interrupt unwanted behaviour, which assume was this pug barking at things.
People think its ok as it's just water, noise etc so the punishment doesn't hurt them but as no thought goes into what dog is trying to communicate during the behaviour it's owner deems bad, it damages the trust and makes a likely fearful dog even more anxious and risks more reactivity because dog then associates seeing dogs/people etc with something unpleasant happening so definately needs to protect itself.

I doubt confronting would help as she not doing anything legally wrong, but even if have the knowledge to explain why it's bad idea it's likely they will be feeling defensive being approached that way and unless they are open to help and advice they won't listen to make changes.

No

This 👆 unfortunately

I did once have a very productive chat with a woman who sounds similar. Her dog growled at mine, she turned around and hit her dog. Somehow managed to keep my cool and had a conversation about how growling is communication, shouldn't be told off for it, telling a dog off for growling makes a bite more likely etc. I think she took it in board. Probably helped that she perceived my dog as the wronged party.

My rescued bichon mix (11 years old now and retrained through positive reinforcement) had been housed with her littermate to people who must have told her off for growling, because she would go straight for a bite with other dogs, over resources, and would allow herself to be in a lot of discomfort before she’d eventually growl at a human, (she never bit people at all, so I can’t imagine what they did to her during the puppy biting stage, if my hand was anywhere near her mouth she’d cower away, which made teeth brushing quite the challenge early on.)
I don’t understand people who can look at such sweet creatures and be such abominable dicks to them.

Oh God I would have struggled to keep my mouth shut 🙁 bloody hate seeing people be shitty to their dogs 😡